Pete Carroll: Malik McDowell has ‘multiple’ injuries from ATV accident, will be out for ‘quite a while’

After Monday’s training camp scrimmage, Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll provided updates on the status of Malik McDowell, the team’s top pick in the 2017 NFL Draft who was recently in an ATV accident in his native Michigan.

“He had a serious accident,” Carroll said (quotes via Seattle Times). “He had multiple injuries. He had an injury to his head. It’s going to be quite a while, and we’re going to have to wait it out. He’s on NFI and is going to be there for a while. We’re just going to see how he progresses down the road. We’re not looking for him to get back in the immediate, not even for the first game of the season. We’re going to wait it out and see how he does.”

Staying on the NFI list into the regular season means McDowell has to sit out at least the opening six games.

Carroll later added that McDowell did suffer a concussion but otherwise did not go into specifics on said injuries, once again respecting the wishes of Malik’s family. When asked if McDowell’s injuries were career threatening, he had this to say:

“We don’t think so. We have to wait. He just turned 21. We’ve just got to wait him out. He’s a real young kid so he has plenty of time to get well. We have to make sure and take care.”

Lastly, Carroll went on Softy Mahler’s show on KJR and more or less hinted that it’s not likely we see McDowell on the field this season.

McDowell has since returned home after reporting to camp last week.